Rodger Beery, 73 of Loveland, passed away July 10, 2016 in Loveland, Colorado. Rodger was born December 4, 1942 in Gothenburg, Nebraska to Lloyd and Gladys (Beck) Beery of Farnam, NE. He was the youngest of three children. He spent his early childhood years in Curtis, Nebraska. Extended family gatherings there always included old time country music jam sessions, so he grew up with a love of music.

In 1956 he moved with his family to Laramie, Wyoming, where he graduated from Laramie H S in 1960. He attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie. After college and various odd jobs, Rodger enlisted in the Wyoming National Guard and later in the Colorado National Guard during the Vietnam War era from 1964-1970. He moved to Colorado in 1965 and during his service, Rodger became a police officer for the Denver Police Department and served on the force for 31 years, retiring as Detective in 1998.

During his career he lived by the philosophy “Let go and let God.” He was proud that he never had to shoot anyone and was never shot himself.

October 6, 1985, he married Marilyn (Nichols) Maguire in Arvada, CO.

Music was his passion. Rodger was a talented self-taught musician and vocalist and played guitar with numerous bands throughout his life. He was a member of the band Squad IV for over 40 years. In addition to school concerts, Police and Firemen Balls, and weddings, they opened for various groups, such as, Oak Ridge Boys, B. B. King and New Kids on the Block. He also enjoyed motorcycles, corvettes, fly fishing and tying flies, and traveling. He loved spending time with his family, nature and Colorado. He recently said, “I pretty much got to try a little bit of everything. The only thing I didn’t get a chance to do was flying. I think I would have liked that.”

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Lloyd (Gary) Beery. Rodger is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn, four children: Mark Beery of Gilbert, AZ, Ken (Elaine) Beery of Gilbert, AZ, Jim (Heather) Maguire of Katy, TX and Meghan (Jim) Cirivello of Long Beach, CA, six grandchildren: Caely and London Beery, Jeff and Chris Maguire and Anabelle and Kaelynn Cirivello, one great grandchild, Aubree Maguire and one sister, Leslie Ann Koester. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 16 at 11:00a.m. at Allnutt Funeral Service, 2100 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland CO In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Denver Police Protective Association Relief Fund or Pathways Hospice in care of Allnutt Funeral Service.

Allnutt Funeral Service